Spain: Osama bin Laden's son seeks asylum

updated 7:52 a.m. ET Nov. 4, 2008

MADRID, Spain - A son of Osama bin Laden was in Spain and was seeking asylum, Spain's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

Omar Osama bin Laden requested asylum immediately after arriving at Madrid airport Monday on a flight from Cairo, Egypt, that had been going on to Casablanca, Morocco, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity in line with ministry rules.

The official said Omar Osama bin Laden was traveling on a passport from Saudi Arabia. The official said he could not say on what grounds bin Laden was requesting asylum.

The 27-year-old remained at the airport while the ministry was considering his petition. The ministry has 72 hours to make a decision, and the petitioner has a right of appeal.

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